Unexpected
On Sunday we decided to make a trip over to Hershey Park and cool off at the water park. Jer and Anna headed straight to the Reese's Cup ride to give that a whirl - proud to say our girl rocked the second highest score out of the four riders in the car (and no Jamesey and I weren't the other two in the car). Little man and I headed on over to the Boardwalk to cool off and wait for them. While we were there I was watching the crowd and had an unexpected encounter. I noticed a girl who was sitting nearby and I was pretty sure that she had a cochlear implant. Jamesey was asleep in the carrier and so we ventured over to introduce ourselves. We got to meet her mom and dad and learned that she was implanted at age 2. She spoke so articulately - and is actually headed out to college in the fall and will be playing lacrosse! It was a wonderful encounter.
The last couple of days have been such a mix of emotion as we face August 8 and Little Man's surgery. It's really been a whirlwind. But as usual God's been good and despite tearful moments and anxiety there have been some amazing moments. I subscribe to a few email devotionals and again the unexpected happened. On Saturday we were having Jamesey's family birthday party - a day full of gifts (the gift of time and also physical presents). Well that day the devotional was on the topic of gifts too precious to receive. The reminder that little man is a gift - his entire life is a blessing.
It happened again today - a devotional that caught me off guard. The author was talking about David and his passing of the crown to his son Solomon. The last months have been tough - I adore our little man and wouldn't trade him for the world. What I would change is the journey we've had - the hospital stays, his deafness and his new diagnosis. There have been moments when it feels like we've been robbed of the path we "should" have had with James. And in those moments it's hard not to be bitter. This author says that David didn't "grip the past tightly; he opened his hands and heart to embrace what God was doing in the present...we can't go back but with God's help we can change how we respond in the future. David cultivated a life of praise, so that when faced with loss that habit elevated his response...praising God is at the center of contentment. As we praise Him, we find the assurance that He's got things covered. In knowing God sees us and hasn't forgotten us, we find peace." A piece of further truth was Psalm 34:18 " The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." I know we can't go back to the days before diagnoses - and if that would mean losing the good that has outweighed the challenging then I really wouldn't want to but I hope that if I can find a place of praise in this loss then maybe I can find some contentment. Embracing the fact that he has Jamesey and Anna in His hands - Hope can flourish and grow, but more than that by believing that He hasn't forgotten our family we can find peace.
Please keep praying with us. August 8 is coming up fast and with that is little man's cochlear implant surgery. I'm nervous on two fronts - it's a long time to be under anesthesia and we don't know what his outcomes will be. I'm trying so hard to be hopeful but the words Kleefstra Syndrome keep hanging over my head and clouding all of the optimism about surgical outcomes and abilities. We hold to hope through it all - we're thankful for the unexpected reminders that He holds us close. Keep hoping with us!
The last couple of days have been such a mix of emotion as we face August 8 and Little Man's surgery. It's really been a whirlwind. But as usual God's been good and despite tearful moments and anxiety there have been some amazing moments. I subscribe to a few email devotionals and again the unexpected happened. On Saturday we were having Jamesey's family birthday party - a day full of gifts (the gift of time and also physical presents). Well that day the devotional was on the topic of gifts too precious to receive. The reminder that little man is a gift - his entire life is a blessing.
It happened again today - a devotional that caught me off guard. The author was talking about David and his passing of the crown to his son Solomon. The last months have been tough - I adore our little man and wouldn't trade him for the world. What I would change is the journey we've had - the hospital stays, his deafness and his new diagnosis. There have been moments when it feels like we've been robbed of the path we "should" have had with James. And in those moments it's hard not to be bitter. This author says that David didn't "grip the past tightly; he opened his hands and heart to embrace what God was doing in the present...we can't go back but with God's help we can change how we respond in the future. David cultivated a life of praise, so that when faced with loss that habit elevated his response...praising God is at the center of contentment. As we praise Him, we find the assurance that He's got things covered. In knowing God sees us and hasn't forgotten us, we find peace." A piece of further truth was Psalm 34:18 " The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." I know we can't go back to the days before diagnoses - and if that would mean losing the good that has outweighed the challenging then I really wouldn't want to but I hope that if I can find a place of praise in this loss then maybe I can find some contentment. Embracing the fact that he has Jamesey and Anna in His hands - Hope can flourish and grow, but more than that by believing that He hasn't forgotten our family we can find peace.
Please keep praying with us. August 8 is coming up fast and with that is little man's cochlear implant surgery. I'm nervous on two fronts - it's a long time to be under anesthesia and we don't know what his outcomes will be. I'm trying so hard to be hopeful but the words Kleefstra Syndrome keep hanging over my head and clouding all of the optimism about surgical outcomes and abilities. We hold to hope through it all - we're thankful for the unexpected reminders that He holds us close. Keep hoping with us!
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